WOODHEAD: Exclusion form the Catholic Church and priesthood shows unease about the emancipation of women and generally.

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Religion is Patriarchal

Biggest source of conflict & inequality in gender.

Religion is used as an instrument of of domination.

Religion is a product of Patriarchy rather than capitalism.

KAREN ARMSTRONG

HOLM

SIMONE DE BEAUVDIR: Religion is used by men to oppress women, it deceives women into thinking they're equal and teaches the they're different and rewarded in heaven. Religion maintains a status quo in which women are unequal.

NAWAL EL SAADAWI: Egyptian feminist trying to change women's rights in Arab world, she says men distort religion so it serves there own interests e.g. Arab girls become victims of sexual aggression.

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Religion is NOT Patriarchal

WATSON- VEIL:

Seen as oppression by Westerners.

HOWEVER Muslim women see it as a way to cope with religious oppression and male oppression.

Symbol of commitment to faith and culture.

Protection against lurching men.

WOODHEAD:

There are ways of women using religion to gain greater social freedom and respect e.g. bible groups or church groups.

Muslim women use the veil as a way to escape confines of own home and enter employment and education.

Women can have a religious influence over men, alter their behaviour, insist "practice what you preach."

Religion can empower women.

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Evaluation of Feminists

STRENGTHS:

There is obvious oppression e.g. Synagogues.

It gets us to question practices that are accepted as norms in some societies (female circumcision.)

Shows how religion is used to oppress women and shows feminism is a valid theory.